Pistachio rootstock named ‘P.N. 1-15’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of pistachio tree, characterized by the glossy, medium red to reddish green color of young foliage, the dull, dark green color of mature foliage, and the rounded upright growth habit, which is particularly useful as a rootstock upon which commercial nut bearing pistachio varieties may be budded or grafted.

Latin name of genus and species: The present invention relates to a newPistachio atlantica×integerrima tree, designated ‘P.N. 1-15’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of pistachiotree, which is a hybrid of P. atlantica and P. integerrima.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The ‘P.N. 1-15’ variety is characterized by the rounded and uprightgrowth of the plant, the glossy, medium red to reddish green color ofyoung foliage, and the dull, dark green color of mature foliage.

The variety is particularly useful as a rootstock upon which commercialnut bearing pistachio varieties may be budded or grafted.

Asexual reproduction by budding onto P. integerrima at Kern County,Calif. shows that the foregoing and other distinguishing characteristicscome true to form and are established and transmitted through succeedingpropagation. Other known forms of asexual reproduction for pistachiosmay also be employed.

The following is a description of both parents and how they differ fromthe observed plant of the new variety.

Male Parent: Pistacia integerrima. Leaves are pinnately compound withsometimes nine leaflets but usually less. Leaflets are nearly opposite,lanceolate and sessile. Leaflets are significantly larger than theobserved plants. Leaflets average 4.35 inches in length and 1.07 inchesin width. The entire leaf is about 10.41 inches, including petiole. Thepetiole is about 0.084 inches in diameter and about 2.82 inches long.Rachis length is about 4.71 inches. The petiole and rachis of the leafare without reddish coloration. Margins of leaflets are entire withalternate and pinnate venation.

Female Parent: Pistacia atlantica. Leaves are pinnately compound withnine leaflets and sometimes less. Leaflets are opposite, lanceolate andsessile. Leaf and leaflets are significantly smaller than observed plantof the new variety. Leaflets average 1.7 inches in length and 0.527inches in width at the widest point. Entire leaf is about 4.34 incheslong including petiole and about 3.31 inches wide. The petiole is about0.71 inches long and has a diameter of about 0.048 inches. Rachis lengthis 1.87 inches long. The petiole and rachis are without reddish color.Margins of leaflets are entire with alternate and pinnate venation.

Differences between parents and observed plant of the new variety:

1. Leaf and leaflet size: The male parent's leaves and individualleaflets are considerably larger than those of observed plant of the newvariety, while the female parent's leaves and leaflets are considerablysmaller.

2. Petiole and rachis: The petiole of the male parent is longer and withlarger diameter than the observed plant of the new variety, whereas thepetiole of the female parent is smaller than the observed plant. Rachisof male parent is longer than that of the new variety, while the rachisof the female parent is shorter. Both parents are without the reddishpetiole and rachis found in the new variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The accompanying photographic illustrations show typical specimens ofvegetative growth of the new variety, in color as nearly true as it isreasonably possible to make in a color illustration of this character.

FIG. 1 shows a one year old pistachio tree of the new variety.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the trunk and compound leaves, typically witheleven leaflets.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the new variety with both medium red toreddish green new leaflets and dark green older leaflets.

FIG. 4 shows an autoradiogram of a Southern blot, using variousmicrosatellite DNA markers (Ptms7, Ptms3, Ptms41, Ptms9, Ptms42 andPtms45) as probes directed against DNA isolated from ‘P.N. 1-15’. Eachmarker was run in triplicate. Size markers are shown in the lane labeled“SDT”.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of pistachiotree, the following is a detailed description of one year old trees withcolor description where indicated by reference to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, except where common terms of colordefinition are employed.

The new variety of pistachio tree as herein described may vary in slightdetail due to climatic, soil and cultural conditions under which thevariety may be grown, the present description being of the variety asgrown at McFarland, Kern County, Calif.

Plant:

Growth.—Rounded and upright, as indicated in FIG. 1.

Foliage:

Leaves.—Compound of eleven leaflets (sometimes less), as indicated inFIG. 2. Length and Width — approximately 8.81 inches long and 5.16inches wide.

Leaflets.—Small, with young tissue glossy and lighter green than oldertissue, which is dull and darker green. Shape: Medium length andlanceolate, apex acute, base acute but less so than apex. Color: Newleaflets are medium red to a reddish green, near Greyed-red Group 173A,as shown in FIG. 3. Older leaflets are dark green, near Greyed-greenGroup 191A, also as shown in FIG. 3. Arrangement: pinnately compound ofeleven, sometimes less, nearly opposite, lanceolate and sessile. Margin,venation pattern and color, length (without petiole), width, andtexture: Entire with a pinnate and alternate venation pattern; veins arelight green, near 194D. Apex of leaflets is acute. Base of leaf cuneate.The length of the leaflet averages 2.61 inches and 0.938 inches wide atwidest spot. The leaflet has a leathery characteristic on top with asmoother surface on bottom. Leaf surface is glabrous. Leaflet Ribs: Thecenter rib on leaves are deepened. Ribs of leaflets start at the base asdeep red (near 178A) and progressively turn green at the tip of theleaflet (near 194D). The veins in leaflets are lighter green than theleaflets.

Rachis length and color.—Rachis length is about 4.15 inches; rachiscolor is greyed-purple, near 183C.

Petiole length, diameter, and color.—Petiole length is about 2.11inches, with a diameter of about 0.076 inches; petiole color isgreyed-purple, near 183C.

Growth:

Trunk.—Trunk is rounded.

Trunk color.—The trunk is light brown in color, near Greyed-orange Group174B, on older growth and red, near Greyed-red Group 178A, in newergrowth.

Trunk diameter.—About 1.64 inches at 12.3 inches above soil surface.

Bark texture.—Rough.

Vegetative buds.—Vegetative buds are small and reddish on new growth andgreen and larger on older growth.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of pistachio tree, identified as‘P.N. 1-15’, substantially as shown and described.